The rest of the flying lesson passed in a haze of careful concentration.
Ivan finished the required exercises first.
On the way down he made a point of speaking to Malfoy, voice full of concern.
“Be careful up there.
Try not to fall off again.” Madam Hooch noticed.
In her experience Gryffindors and Slytherins rarely showed each other genuine concern.
Her opinion of Ivan rose another notch.
Malfoy nearly choked on the advice.
He loudly announced he would demonstrate a difficult manoeuvre to prove his skill.
Hooch cut him off at once and forbade him from leaving the ground for the remainder of the class.
One fall was already more than enough.
[Ding.
Flying class concluded.
Overall evaluation: Excellent Evaluator: Rolanda Hooch Reward: Academic Points ×10] Walking the corridor afterward, Ivan finally relaxed.
Even with Malfoy’s interference the target evaluation had been reached.
Ron and Hermione were in far worse moods.
Both worried about Harry.
Hermione still had not cooled down.
The moment class ended she planted herself in front of Ivan.
“We should have told Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch the truth!
What if Harry gets expelled?” Ivan stopped.
“He won’t.
McGonagall isn’t going to expel him over this.
More likely she saw how well he flew and wants him on the Quidditch team.” “First-years aren’t allowed on the team,” Hermione corrected.
“There are always exceptions.
Not every first-year flies like that on their first attempt.” Hermione considered it.
Ron’s eyes lit up.
The three of them spent the walk to the Great Hall discussing the possibility.
If Harry could get a place, Ron reasoned, there might be room for a Beater or Keeper as well.
Harry was already seated when they arrived.
He met them halfway, barely able to contain the news: McGonagall had made him Seeker.
Even with Ivan’s earlier prediction the other two were stunned.
Ron looked ready to float.
“You’re the youngest Seeker in Hogwarts history!
Do they need anyone else?
Beaters?
Keeper?” “Wood says the team’s full.” Harry looked faintly embarrassed.
He had only learned what Quidditch was a few hours earlier.
Then he turned to Ivan, expression shifting to mild grievance.
“What actually happened in flying class?
Malfoy took Neville’s Remembrall, I went after it… when did it become the three of us practising together?” Being marched away by McGonagall had convinced him he was about to be expelled and sent back to the cupboard under the stairs.
The reality had been far better, but the confusion remained.
Ivan saw no reason to hide anything.
He explained the Body-Bind, the mutual decision not to report the full story, and the shared interest in avoiding detention.
“If I had exposed him I would have been sitting in detention right beside him.
He’s had enough of a scare for one day.” Ron added the detail about Malfoy being grounded for the rest of the lesson.
Harry’s irritation vanished; he laughed until he had to wipe his eyes.
Only Hermione still looked offended by the rule-breaking.
When the conversation continued without her she turned and left.
Ivan did not call her back.
Her rigid adherence to every regulation needed adjusting.
Following rules was fine; treating them as absolute and leaving no room for reality was simply inflexible.
In the original timeline Malfoy had walked away from the same incident with almost no consequences.
Even if Harry had been given the chance to explain, McGonagall would most likely have docked points from both and left it there.
Malfoy would have lost nothing.
At least this time he had been properly frightened.
The respite lasted less than the length of a meal.
Malfoy appeared with Crabbe and Goyle flanking him.
Backup restored his usual arrogance, though the look he gave Ivan still carried pure dislike.
“Potter, enjoying your last meal?
Tomorrow you’ll be back in the Muggle world where you belong.” Ivan and Harry simply stared at him.
Ron looked ready to announce the Seeker news just to watch the reaction.
The complete lack of concern unsettled Malfoy, but he pushed on.
“Hals.
If you’ve got the guts, meet me in the trophy room tonight.
I challenge you to a duel.” Ivan shook his head without hesitation.
“No.” He had a system reward waiting in the Restricted Section at midnight.
He had no intention of wasting the evening on Malfoy’s games.
He also remembered the original plan: a deliberate no-show followed by Filch.
Only an idiot would walk into that.
“Scared?” Malfoy sneered.
“I don’t duel losers.
It’s a waste of time.” Ivan gave him a flat, dismissive look.
“Come back when you’ve learned something more advanced.
Next time you fall, no one will be there to catch you.”